It was good to meet with the EA’s recently-appointed Executive Director of Operations, Sarah Chare, in Newcastle earlier today.
Sarah is now responsible for the EA’s front line operational activities (and is therefore Area Director Ian Jones’s boss).
Under direct instruction from Phil Duffy (the EA Chief Executive) she is making the ongoing regulation of and enforcement at Walley’s Quarry her top priority. I was encouraged that she made visiting Newcastle her first field trip in her new role, and that I am the first MP she has met in this capacity.
We discussed where we were at with the landfill and I reiterated the need to keep a very close watch on both odour levels and on-site operations. I specifically highlighted the work the community have done in tracking lorries entering the landfill. I also stressed that we are still waiting for a prosecution of the company, in light of the 100+ breaches of their permit.
Odour levels have decreased since the work the operator undertook during the suspension notice, but (a) we have had much windier weather, which may partially account for this, and (b) the levels still remain too high.
I will continue fighting to secure us a closure notice and get the landfill closed down and capped off once and for all.